Electric rotary hairbrush

ABSTRACT

An electric rotary hairbrush includes a handle unit and a brush unit, the handle unit having a transmission mechanism controlled by a switch to rote the rotary brush unit, a positive and negative pole electrodes respectively mounted in the circular flat top thereof and electrically connected to an inside electric circuit for power output, the rotary hairbrush unit having a rotary cap capped on the handle unit, and an electrically insulative disk mounted inside the rotary cap, the electrically insulative disk having two annular metal contacts concentrically provided at the bottom side and respectively disposed in contact with the positive and negative pole electrodes, and positive pole and negative pole terminals fixedly provided at the top side and respectively electrically connected to the annular metal contacts, and an electric heater mounted in the comb holder and electrically connected to the positive and negative pole terminals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to hairbrushes and, more particularly, to an electric rotary hairbrush.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Following fast development of material science and employment of new manufacturing processes, industrial materials, for example, polymers are used instead of natural materials for the production of hairbrushes, and electric brushes are developed to substitute for manual brushes. There are commercially available hair dryer and brush combinations for drying the hair when brushing the hair. However, women may have different lengths of hair and, may require to have a different hairdo (natural style, bob, cornrow, pageboy, pigtail, upsweep, etc.), special hair grooming implements and techniques may be needed.

[0005] There is known an electric rotary hairbrush designed for grooming the hair. This structure of electric rotary hairbrush comprises a handle, a transmission mechanism mounted inside the handle, a switch adapted to control forward/reverse rotation of the transmission mechanism, a shaft connector coupled to the transmission mechanism and suspended in one end of the handle, and a rotary brush unit coupled to the shaft connector for synchronous rotation with the shaft connector. The rotary brush unit comprises a cylindrical comb holder, a shaft fixedly extended from one end of the comb holder and coupled to the shaft connector of the handle, and rows of teeth radially arranged around the periphery of the comb holder. When switched on the switch to start the transmission mechanism, the brush unit is rotated with the shaft connector. When wishing to set the hair in shape or to dry the hair, a separate hair dryer should be used. It is inconvenient to operate an electric rotary brush and a hair dryer with the two hands at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide an electric rotary hairbrush, which combines a hairdryer into a rotary brush.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, the electric rotary hairbrush comprises a handle unit, the handle unit comprising a transmission mechanism mounted on the inside, a circular flat top at one end thereof, a shaft connector fastened pivotally with the center of the circular flat top and coupled to the transmission mechanism for rotation by the transmission mechanism, and switch means adapted to control the operation of the transmission mechanism; and a rotary hairbrush unit, the rotary hairbrush unit comprising a cylindrical comb holder, the cylindrical comb holder having a front end and a rear end, rows of teeth radially fixedly fastened to the periphery of the cylindrical comb holder, a shaft axially extended from the rear end of the cylindrical comb holder and connected to the shaft connector of the handle unit, a top cap capped the front end of the cylindrical comb holder, and a rotary cap capped on the circular flat top of the handle unit to secure the shaft to the shaft connector for enabling the comb unit to be rotated with the shaft connector; wherein the handle unit comprises a positive pole electrode and a negative pole electrode respectively mounted in the circular flat top and electrically connected to an electric circuit inside the handle unit; the rotary hairbrush unit comprises an electrically insulative disk fixedly mounted inside the rotary cap, the electrically insulative disk comprising a center through hole for the passing of the shaft, two annular metal contacts concentrically fixedly provided at a bottom side thereof around the center through hole and respectively disposed in contact with the positive pole electrode and the negative pole electrode, and positive pole and negative pole terminals fixedly provided at a top side thereof and respectively electrically connected to the annular metal contacts, and an electric heater mounted in the comb holder and electrically connected to the positive and negative pole terminals.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention, the electric heater comprises at least one heating element respectively disposed between two adjacent rows of teeth.

[0009] According to an alternate form of the present invention, the comb holder has air vents in the periphery thereof; the electric heater comprises an electric fan fixedly fastened to the top cap and electrically connected to the positive pole and negative pole terminals, and an electric heating wire arranged inside the comb holder and electrically connected to the positive pole and negative pole terminals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an electric rotary hairbrush according to the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is an assembly view, partially in section, of the electric rotary hairbrush according to the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the electric rotary hairbrush according to the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 4 is an assembly view, partially in section, of an alternate form of the electric rotary hairbrush according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an electric rotary hairbrush in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of a handle unit 1 and a rotary hairbrush unit 2.

[0015] The handle unit 1, similar to prior art designs, comprises a transmission mechanism (not shown) mounted on the inside, a switch 11 mounted in the peripheral wall and adapted to control forward/reverse rotation of the transmission mechanism, a circular flat top 12, a shaft connector 13 axially disposed in the center of the circular flat top 12 and coupled to the transmission mechanism, two spring electrodes 14 and 15 disposed adjacent the periphery the shaft connector 13 and electrically connected to the internal electric circuit of the handle unit 1 for power output. Preferably, the spring electrodes 14 and 15 are disposed at two sides of the shaft connector 13, preventing a short circuit accidentally.

[0016] The rotary hairbrush unit 2 comprises a hollow, perforated, cylindrical comb holder 21, rows of teeth 22 radially fastened to the periphery of the cylindrical comb holder 21, a shaft 23 fixedly and axially extended from one end of the cylindrical comb holder 21 and pressed into the shaft connector 13, a rotary cap 24 capped on the circular flat top 12 to affix the shaft 23 to the shaft connector 13. When switch on the switch 11, the transmission mechanism is started to rotate the shaft connector 13 and the shaft 23, thereby causing the rotary hairbrush unit 2 to be synchronously rotated. The aforesaid structure of the rotary hairbrush unit 2 is similar to the prior art designs. The main features of the present invention are outlined hereinafter. An electrically insulative disk 25 is fixedly mounted inside the rotary cap 24, having a center through hole 253 for the passing of the shaft 23, two annular metal contacts 251 and 252 concentrically fixedly arranged on the bottom surface around the center through hole 253 and respectively disposed in contact with the spring electrodes 14 and 15, positive pole and negative pole terminals 254 and 255 fixedly provided at the top surface and respectively electrically connected to the annular metal contacts 251 and 252, and an electric heater 26 mounted in the comb holder 21.

[0017] The electric heater 26 comprises an electric heating element 261, which has two ends respectively connected to the positive pole and negative pole terminals 254 and 255 and is arranged between two adjacent rows of teeth 22, and heat guide tube 262 sleeved onto the electric heating element 261 and connected the rotary cap 24 and a top cap 27, which is capped on the top end of the comb holder 21 opposite to the rotary cap 24.

[0018]FIG. 4 shows an alternate form of the electric heater 26 according to the present invention. According to this alternate form, the electric heater 26 comprises an electric fan 263 installed in the top cap 27 and facing the inside of the comb holder 21, and an electric heating wire 264. The two opposite poles of the electric fan 263 and the electric heating wire 264 are respectively coupled to the positive pole and negative pole terminals 254 and 255. When operated, hot air is forced out of peripheral air vents 211 of the comb holder 21 to dry the hair.

[0019] A prototype of electric rotary hairbrush has been constructed with the features of the annexed drawings of FIGS. 1-4. The electric rotary hairbrush functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0020] Although particular embodiment of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric rotary hairbrush comprising: a handle unit, said handle unit comprising a transmission mechanism mounted on the inside, a circular flat top at one end thereof, a shaft connector fastened pivotally with the center of said circular flat top and coupled to said transmission mechanism for rotation by said transmission mechanism, and switch means adapted to control the operation of said transmission mechanism; and a rotary hairbrush unit, said rotary hairbrush unit comprising a cylindrical comb holder, said cylindrical comb holder having a front end and a rear end, rows of teeth radially fixedly fastened to the periphery of said cylindrical comb holder, a shaft axially extended from the rear end of said cylindrical comb holder and connected to said shaft connector of said handle unit, a top cap capped the front end of said cylindrical comb holder, and a rotary cap capped on the circular flat top of said handle unit to secure said shaft to said shaft connector for enabling said comb unit to be rotated with said shaft connector; wherein said handle unit comprises a positive pole electrode and a negative pole electrode respectively mounted in said circular flat top and electrically connected to an electric circuit inside said handle unit; said rotary hairbrush unit comprises an electrically insulative disk fixedly mounted inside said rotary cap, said electrically insulative disk comprising a center through hole for the passing of said shaft, two annular metal contacts concentrically fixedly provided at a bottom side thereof around said center through hole and respectively disposed in contact with said positive pole electrode and said negative pole electrode, and positive pole and negative pole terminals fixedly provided at a top side thereof and respectively electrically connected to said annular metal contacts, and an electric heater mounted in said comb holder and electrically connected to said positive and negative pole terminals.
 2. The electric rotary hairbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric heater comprises at least one heating element respectively disposed between two adjacent rows of teeth.
 3. The electric rotary hairbrush as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electric heater further comprises at least one heat guide tube respectively sleeved onto said at least one heating element and connected between said rotary cap and said top cap.
 4. The electric rotary hairbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric heater comprises an electric fan fixedly fastened to said top cap and electrically connected to said positive pole and negative pole terminals, and an electric heating wire arranged inside said comb holder and electrically connected to said positive pole and negative pole terminals; said comb holder has air vents in the periphery thereof.
 5. The electric rotary hairbrush as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positive pole electrode and said negative pole electrode are spaced from said shaft connector at two opposite sides. 